Letter-box



2 Sheets- Sheetl.

Patented. July 11, 1893.

E s a m im..

E. J. FITZGERALD. EETTEE BOX.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

P. J. FITZGERALD LETTER BOX.

Patented Julyl 11, 1893.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

PETER .I. FITZGERALD, OF HYDE PARK, MASSACHUSETTS.

LETTER-BOX.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 501,270, dated July 11, 1893.

Application led October 13I 1890. Serial No. 367,925. (No model.)

-and useful Improvements in Letter-Boxes, of

which the following, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification. l My invention relates to that class of letter boxes that give an alarm when a letter is in the box.

The invention consists of a box divided into two compartments, the upper one to receive the letters and the lower one to hold the elec-4 tric battery and in the manner of connecting said box to an electric bell and push buttons as hereinafter fully described and pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings:-

Fgure l is a front View of a letter box, elec- 4 tric bell and push buttons embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a vertical section through the box and side View of the bell. Figs. 3 and 4 are similar views of a somewhat modiiied arrangement.

A, represents a portion of a door or wall to which the letter box B, is secured.

C, is a board upon which an electric bell D, and a push button E, are mounted, and which may be secured in any room or apartment in the building.

The letter box B, is divided by a partition b, into two compartments, the upper one b', to receive the letters and the lower one b2 to receive an electric battery F. The compartments are closed by doors l, 2, so that access to either compartment may be had without interfering with the other. The top of the box is provided with a flap B', through which the letters are inserted when the box is attached to a wall, and over the box is secured a push button H, but when the box is attached to the inside of av door, the door is provided with a slot and it is fitted with a plate G, having a flap G', and in this case the push button H, is secured outside the door over the plate G.

In the lower part of the upper compartment b is fitted a hinged shelf I, that is kept raised by a spring when the box is empty.

The positive pole of the battery F, is by a wire 3 connected to a contact point 4 onthe front end of the shelf I;' immediately below the point 4 is another point 5, which by wire 6 is connected to one pole of the magnets of the bell D, the other pole of which is by a wire 7 connected to push button H, that by wire 8 is connected to the box B, which by a wire 9 is connected to the negative pole of the battery F. The negative pole of the battery is also by a wire 10, connected to the lpush button E, which is by wire l1 connected to'the bell D. If a letter is dropped inthe box B, the shelf I, will be depressed so as to bring the two points 4, 5, into contact. The postman then presses upon the button H, thus completing the circuit, and causing the bell D to ring, the circuit being from the positive pole of the battery through wire 3 to point 4, and thence to point 5, then through wire 6 to the bell D, from thence by wire 7 to push button H, and by wire 8 to box B, and from the box by wire 9 to the negative pole of the battery. As soon as the push H is released the circuit is broken, and the points 4-5 remain in contact, and if a person in the room or apartment in which the bell is placed wishes to know if there is anything in the box, he presses upon the button E, and the bell is Yrung by a circuit which passes from battery F, wire 3, points 4-5, wire 6, through the bell D, thence by wire 11 to button E, and

by wire 10 to the negative pole of the battery.

If the box is attached to the inside of a door the plate G, would be connected to the box B by wire 12, and the wires 7 and 8 would be connected to the push on the outside of the door as shown, instead of the push on the in- Side.

If desired instead of the push button-H, or in addition thereto, a point of contact 13 may be connected to the wire 7, so that when the iiap B or G is raised, a small spring will come into contact with said point and ring the bell.

The arrangement shown in Figs. 3 and 4, is Very similar to that described onlythe push H is dispensed with and the bell is rung (whether there is a letter in the box or not) by the spring on the flaps coming into contact withv the point 13. The wires will be arranged as follows: The wire 6 communicates directly from the positive pole of the battery F, to the bell D, and the wire 7 directly from the bell to the point 13. The wire 10 communicates with the point 4 and the point 5 is by a wire 1,4 connected to the negative pole of the battery. If the flap is raised the spring will come into contact with the point 13 and ring the bell, the current passing from the positive pole of the battery by the wire 6 to the bell, thence through the bell and by Wire 7 to point 13, thence through the iiap and box to Wire 9, and thence to the negative pole of the battery. If a person in the room or apartment in which the bell is placed wishes to know if there is a letter in the box, he presses on the push E, and if the points 4 and 5 are in contact, the circuit is complete and the bell rings, the circuit being from the battery through wire 6 to and through bell D, thence by wire 11 to push E, and by wire 10 to point 4, thence to point and through wire 14 to the negative pole of the battery.

Although I have described and prefer to employ a metallic box, a box of other material mightbeemployed. Thenthevariouscircuits made by the box itself would have to be made by proper Wire connections, and although certain wires are described as being connected to the positive and negative poles of the battery, it is obvious that if the wires were reversed the action would be the same, although the current would run in the opposite direction.

What I claim isl. The letter box B divided into two compartments b', b2, and the electric battery F, in combination with the bell D, push buttons E, H, and electrical connections whereby the bell can be rung when a letter is in the box by the person depositing the letter or by a person in a room or apartment where the bell is placed, substantially as set forth.

2. The combination of the box B, divided into two compartments and having a hinged shelf I, and contact points 4-5 with the battery F, electric bell D, push buttons E, H, and wires 3, 6, 7,8, 9, and 11 for making an electric circuit substantially as set forth.

3. The combination of the box B, divided into two compartments and having a hinged shelf I, and contact points 4 5 With the battery F, electric bell D, push button E, contact point 13 and Wires 6, 7, 9, 10, 1l and 14 substantially as and for the purposes set forth.

4. A metallic letter box divided into two compartments, in one of which is an electric battery; anelectric bell, push buttons and wire connections, the box itself forming part of the circuit, all arranged and operated substantially as shown and described.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, on this 11th day ot' October, A. D. 1890.

PETER J. FITZGERALD. Witnesses:

L. W. I'IOWEs, EDWIN PLANTA. 

